Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1887-03-22
ReSm Fer lmprevement


Some years ago the late Senator Kennedy
introduced into the Legislature resolution
providing for such amendment Of the state
constitution a. would abolish the tax ne.
quirement as voting qualification. Gov.
Pattison consistently advocated the same
measure. 1t was not, however, taken up
by the Republican majority In that body;
and the party managers, who are supreme
there, starved the subject to death. They
seem to take different view OF It now; and
Senator Cooper, who 10 also the Republican
state chairman, has succeeded in having
such bill passed through the Senate q
his measure. IT it Is acceptable to the
caucus management it will no doubt also
pass the House and be signed by the gov
ernor; since all legislation at Harrisburg
this winter is shaped by party council and
trade-marked with the Republican brand.
There will be few to regret the abate.
ment Of the so.called poll tax. There seems
to be no good reason for its establishment,
no sound practice in its enforcement, and
no justification in morals or economy for
its continuance. 1t has been impossible to
get voters to pay their own taxes 1t has
been impracticable for courts to decree or
for legislatures to define that what the In.
dividual can do for himself he cannot dc
through another agent; and consequently
the law has utterly failed Of 1T
purposes. In this city, for instance
as many as four. thousand voter.
have had their taxes paid for then
by the political parties in Philadelphia
the number has reached 10000 and th'
purchase of tax receipts has been one Of th'
most forcible pretenses for raising the larg'
sums Of money whose collection and dis
bursement have demoralized and cor
rupted our politics. 1t is to be hoped
from every point Of view, that the poll Ia,
and every form of tax requirement as {
franchise qualification will be speedil!
abated.
| 1t is true, as the Philadelphia Press sug
gests, that the adoption of this amendmen
should not be allowed to break down tn
legal requirement Of registration or simila
safeguards of a pure ballot. Adequat
means should be provided and the presen
| provisions strengthened for determining i
advance of election day the qualification
Of voters. Sixty days residence in the di!
trict ought to remain requirement an
the list of lawful voters should be mad
out and judicially determined before th
day of voting ard by more deliberate an
better qualified jurisdiction than th
ordinary election board. For often II
decisions are ill-considered and .paftisan
and the candidate who is cheated of b
election by the exclusion Of fair votes HI
no remedy whatever. A ballot unjustl
kent ela-sfi ese sfi the box can never be got int
: the count.
In some states the right Of the voter
fully tested in advance; his appeal lies
the court: the lists are published al
purged, and every mans qualifications a
soberly and fairly passed on with regard
: the law. The perfected lists are then 81
piled to the election officers, and they ha'
; no authority except to be guided by
!. There seems to be no good reason why th
i judicious arrangement should not be intr
duced into the PENNSYLVANIA law.